Tie One On – Only in OB

As I drove down Sunset Cliffs yesterday afternoon in the light rain with a squall line approaching from the west, I noticed the street sign at Monanco and Sunset Cliffs had been decorated. I thought, “how cute” – since I take lots of photos and even get them out to the public on occasion I thought this might be a photo op.

It was drizzling now and getting blustery and I was getting wet. I shielded my camera, got out and walked over to the sign for a better look.

“Holy Hell these are men’s neck ties!” I said as I laughed out loud.

I snapped a few shots, and as I did, I noticed this blue car parked 40 yards away. A woman got out and started walking towards the “Tie One On” pole. I asked her if she lived around here and she said, “yeah in OB.”

We chatted about the pole and I told her I am a little bit of a photog and this would make a great story.

She finally confessed it was her art work.

April Cromer, a designer, tied on ALL the mens neckties in the traditional knot none the less. I have a hard enough time tying one on in the mirror… but she tied a 100 with great knots on a pole!

I asked her, “What was behind the idea?”

She simply said, “I wanted to get people to think.”

I told her well it worked for me…. She asked what popped into my head when I saw the Urban Art Pole.

I responded, “The first thing I thought was somebody had retired and after wearing neckties for a lifetime they were sending a message to the world that they were done with ties!!!”

April wants people to add to her urban art if they feel so inclined!! ONLY IN OB huh?

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